Worcester State’s Despres, Smith-Porter Named Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Player, Pitcher of the Year, Headline 2018 MASCAC Softball All-Conference Team

Worcester State’s Sydney Despres and Dakota Smith-Porter have been named the 2018 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year and head up the all-conference squad which is voted on by the coaches from around the conference.

Worcester State’s Despres, Smith-Porter Named Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Player, Pitcher of the Year, Headline 2018 MASCAC Softball All-Conference Team
May 10, 2018
 
Westfield, Mass. — Worcester State’s Sydney Despres and Dakota Smith-Porter have been named the 2018 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year and head up the all-conference squad which is voted on by the coaches from around the conference.
 
Despres, a senior catcher from Sterling, Mass., helped the Lancers to the MASCAC Regular Season title and top seed in the tournament. She ended the regular season first in batting average (.570), slugging percentage (.877), on-base percentage (.609), doubles (11), runs scored (47) and total bases (100). She was second in hits (65) and home runs (8) while also tallying the third-most RBI in the conference (35). Behind the plate, she had 159 puts outs and was a part of four double plays. Four times this season, she was 4-for-4 at the plate, including most recently against Massachusetts Maritime where had had three RBI and three runs scored in the win.  
 
Smith-Porter, a senior from Montague, Mass. is the 2018 MASCAC Pitcher of the Year. Over 88 innings pitched, she netted a 3.58 ERA with 51 strikeouts, 10 wins, nine complete games, including three shutouts with an opponent batting average of .289 and averaged 4.06 strikeouts per game. In the 3-1 win over Framingham State, she pitched a complete game, only allowing five hits with one run and four strikeouts.   
 
Earning the 2018 MASCAC Rookie of the Year is Alex Ruprecht of Bridgewater State. The freshman from Kingston, Mass. tallied a .325 batting average with nine doubles, two home runs, 24 runs scored and 33 RBI while also collecting a .444 slugging percentage with three walks and two stolen bases. 
 
Leading the Owls to a 10-5 record and the third seed in the MASCAC Tournament, Colleen Bannister of Westfield State is the 2018 Champion’s Choice Softball Coach of the Year. 
 
Joining Despres and Smith-Porter on the first team are Bridgewater State’s Kacie Carvalho, Shannon Grindle and Jenny Heller, Framingham State’s Grace Caughey, Kelsi Gunarathne and Dayna Marchant, Salem State’s Jen Crovo and Marisa Sanchez, Westfield State’s Maddy Atkocaitis and Caitlin Hughes and Worcester State’s Kaiulani Ennis.
 
Earning a spot on the MASCAC second team all-conference with Ruprecht are Bridgewater State’s Samantha Mulcahy and Natalie Sorrenti, Fitchburg State’s Hayley McCarthy, Framingham State’s Camille Desrochers and Mycala Moody, Massachusetts Maritime’s Jill Corazzini, Westfield State’s Emily Arredondo and Kaitlynn Prophet and Worcester State’s Becky Brandeberry and Kaci Panarelli.